 |
China Supports Blood Testing in Sydney Olympic
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided to test for EPO in the Sydney Olympics, said Shi Chengkang, director of Anti-Stimulants Committee of the Chinese Olympic Committee. China has already included the IOC's verdict in its blood tests for athletes and the unqualified athletes will not participate in Sydney Olympic.
Shi said the IOC passed the decision to test for EPO in the Sydney Olympics August 29. This is the first time a blood test will be given in the history of Olympics. We are pleased about this because it will create a fairer competitive environment and benefit the development of Olympic sports.
China is one of the first five countries that worked on the EPO blood test research. China has been experimenting with the blood test since 1998. Up to August 26, 2000, the China Stimulant Test Center has performed 2,268 urine tests and more than 300 blood tests. The National Sports Bureau has set ten regulations regarding stimulant use for the Chinese athletes competing in Sydney.
Some people have complained that the test for stimulants interferes with the training of some athletes. Shi responded to the complaints by saying the urine test requires only a small sample as does the blood test, it won't affect the athletes biologically or psychologically. He emphasized that it is the duty and responsibility of any athlete that has registered with the Chinese athletic association to take the stimulant test at any time.
Shi also pointed out that the China Stimulant Test Center, which has passed the IOC's annual examination for eleven consecutive years, has already been named an alternate laboratory for the Sydney Games.
In This Section
|